The member representing Ideato Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, has called on the Nigerian Police to withdraw their invitation to the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, over allegations of terrorism financing. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ugochinyere urged the police to focus on combating the country’s widespread insecurity instead of pursuing what he described as baseless accusations against the NLC leader.
The police had summoned Ajaero for questioning over allegations of criminal conspiracy and terrorism financing, with Ajaero indicating that he would honor the invitation on August 29. However, Ugochinyere, who also serves as the spokesperson for the opposition coalition in the House, argued that the allegations lack merit and could potentially destabilize the country.
“NLC President Joe Ajaero did not commit any acts of terrorism or murder. The police should drop these unfounded charges to avoid creating unnecessary unrest and confusion for President Tinubu,” Ugochinyere stated. He emphasized that the police would better serve the nation by directing their efforts toward pressing issues such as banditry, oil theft, and other forms of criminality that are severely impacting Nigeria’s security and economy.
Ugochinyere warned that pursuing the NLC President could lead to public unrest, drawing from his personal experiences with the police. He recalled being repeatedly invited and charged by the same police force and suggested that such tactics are outdated and transparent to the public.
“The real terror that needs addressing is the insecurity causing economic hardship and skyrocketing food prices. Instead of summoning Comrade Ajaero, the police should be more involved in quelling security challenges across the country,” he added.
Ugochinyere concluded by advising the Nigerian Police to withdraw the invitation, emphasizing that the nation is currently facing critical challenges that require the full attention of security agencies.
